Blaze once again highlights fire risks in Bhopal

Bhopal: A morning blaze ripped through the Bhoj Inn bar and restaurant in Lalghati on Sunday, shattering windows and prompting a major rescue and containment operation by Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) fire crews.

The fire is believed to have started between 7 and 7:30 am on an open stairway where electrical units were located. Inside the Bhoj Inn bar and restaurant, staff were caught unaware as smoke spread through the building. With the air conditioning running and no customers present at that early hour, it took 15 to 30 minutes before they realised the building was on fire, according to BMC sources.

By then, pressure had built up inside the sealed structure, causing the windows to shatter as crews arrived.

Firefighters later recovered six cylinders from the rooftop kitchen in a risky operation that averted a potential explosion. “Had the cylinders gone off, the roof kitchen would have been destroyed,” one firefighter said. The bank and laundry on the lower floors reported no damage, with the bank confirming its records were secure.

BMC staff in the operation noted that while three extinguishers were present, no smoke alarm had been installed or worked. Investigators are now examining compliance with safety norms. A BMC officer said they received a distress call at 8:15 am and the fire was brought under control by 11 am.

When contacted, Bhoj Inn declined to provide any details.

“I arrived at about 8:45 am, by which time around eight fire units were already working to extinguish the blaze. The restaurant and bar sits above the bank and laundry on lower floors,” said bank security guard Bhen Singh.

A police official who reached the spot confirmed they received information around 8:15 am but declined to comment on whether the bar operates late at night.

BMC officials cautioned that damage estimates, put at a few lakhs, remain provisional pending a full survey.